ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:To evaluate whether scintigraphy with technetium-99m-labeled ceftizoxime (99mTc-CFT) can differentiate mediastinitis from aseptic inflammation associated with sternotomy.METHODS:Twenty female Wistar rats were randomly distributed into four groups: S (control) -partial upper median sternotomy with no treatment; SW (control) - sternotomy and treatment of sternal wounds with bone wax; SB - sternotomy and infection with Staphylococcus aureus; SWB - sternotomy with bone wax treatment and bacterial infection. Scintigraphy with 99mTc-CFT was performed eight days after surgery and images were collected 210 and 360 min after infusion of the radiopharmaceutical.RESULTS: No animals exhibited clinical signs of wound infection at the end of the experiment, although histological data verified acute inflammatory response in those experimentally infected with bacteria. Scintigraphic images revealed that tropism of 99mTc-CFT to infected sternums was greater than to their non-infected counterparts. Mean counts of radioactivity in bacteria-infected sternal regions (SB and SWB) were significantly higher (p = 0.0007) than those of the respective controls (S and SW).CONCLUSION:Scintigraphy with technetium-99m-labeled ceftizoxime is a method that can potentially detect infection post sternotomy and differentiate from aseptic inflammation in animals experimentally inoculated with S. aureus.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Ceftizoxime/analogs & derivatives , Mediastinitis , Organotechnetium Compounds , Sternotomy/adverse effects , Sternum , Surgical Wound Infection , Disease Models, Animal , Random Allocation , Rats, Wistar , Reproducibility of Results , Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcal Infections , Sternum/microbiology , Surgical Wound Infection/microbiologyABSTRACT
AbstractObjective:The diagnosis and treatment of sternal wound infections with mycobacteria are challenging. Such an infection is often associated with a delayed diagnosis and improper treatment that may lead to a worsened clinical outcome. The present study is designed to highlight its clinical features so as to facilitate a prompt diagnosis and timely treatment.Methods:MEDLINE, Highwire Press, and Google search engine were searched for publications in the English language, with no time limit, reporting on sternal wound infection caused by tuberculosis after cardiac surgery.Results:A total of 12 articles reporting on 14 patients were included in this study. Coronary artery bypass grafting was the underlying surgical procedure in more than half of the cases. Purulent discharge and cold abscess were the two main presenting symptoms. Diagnosis of sternal wound infection was evidenced in all 14 patients by different investigations, with culture of samples being the most sensitive method of identifying the pathogen. Good response to first-line anti-tuberculous agents was noted. Almost all patients required surgical debridement/resection and, sometimes, sternal reconstruction. A delayed diagnosis of sternal wound infection may lead to repeated recurrences. A comparison between patients with sternal wound infection due to tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections showed that the former infections took an even longer period of time. Comparisons also revealed patients with sternal tuberculosis infection had a significantly higher mortality than patients with sternal non-tuberculous infection (29.2% vs. 0%, P=0.051).Conclusion:Sternal infection caused by tuberculosis after cardiac surgery has a longer latency, better response to first-line drugs, and better outcomes in comparison with non-tuberculous sternal infection. Early diagnosis and early anti-tuberculous treatment can surely improve the patients' prognosis.
ResumoObjetivo:O diagnóstico e tratamento da infecção esternal com micobactérias são desafiadores. Essa infecção é muitas vezes associada a um diagnóstico tardio e o tratamento inadequado que pode levar a um resultado clínico pior. O presente estudo tem como objetivo destacar suas características clínicas, a fim de facilitar um diagnóstico rápido e tratamento adequado em tempo hábil.Métodos:MEDLINE, Highwire Press, e o mecanismo de busca Google foram pesquisados por publicações em Inglês, sem limite de tempo, relatando sobre infecção de ferida esternal causada por tuberculose após cirurgia cardíaca.Resultados:Um total de 12 artigos, descrevendo 14 pacientes, foram incluídos no estudo. A revascularização do miocárdio foi o procedimento cirúrgico subjacente em mais da metade dos casos. Secreção purulenta e abscesso frio foram os dois principais sintomas apresentados. O diagnóstico de infecção de ferida esternal foi evidenciado em todos os 14 pacientes por diferentes investigações, com a cultura de amostras sendo o método mais sensível para identificar o agente patogênico. Boa resposta a agentes antituberculosos de primeira linha foi observada. Quase todos os pacientes necessitaram de desbridamento cirúrgico/ressecção e, em alguns casos, reconstrução esternal. Um diagnóstico tardio da infecção de ferida esternal pode levar a recorrências repetidas. Uma comparação entre pacientes com infecção de ferida esternal devido a infecções tuberculosas e micobactérias não tuberculosas mostrou que as infecções por tuberculose duraram um período de tempo maior. Comparações também revelaram que pacientes com infecção esternal por tuberculose tiveram mortalidade significativamente mais elevada do que os pacientes com infecção esternal por micobactérias não tuberculosas (29,2% vs. 0%; P=0,051).Conclusão:A infecção esternal por tuberculose após cirurgia cardíaca tem uma latência maior, melhor resposta aos medicamentos de primeira linha e melhores resultados em comparação com a infecção esternal por micobactérias não tuberculosas. O diagnóstico precoce e o rápido tratamento antituberculose podem certamente melhorar o prognóstico dos pacientes.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Cardiac Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Sternum/microbiology , Surgical Wound Infection/microbiology , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/complications , Coronary Artery Bypass/adverse effects , Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation/adverse effects , Staphylococcal Infections/diagnosis , Sternotomy/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Descrevemos o caso de um paciente de 74 anos, masculino, com dor torácica na porção superior do esterno com um ano de evolução associada a eritema, edema e fístula com drenagem de material purulento. Paciente HIV negativo e sem história prévia de contato com TB. A TC de tórax evidenciou lesão osteolítica esternal, e o material de biópsia revelou granuloma caseoso negativo para fungos e bacilos álcool-ácido resistentes no exame microbiológico direto. O diagnóstico de osteomielite esternal por Mycobacterium tuberculosis foi realizado por PCR.
We report the case of a 74-year-old male patient with a one-year history of chest pain in the suprasternal notch associated with erythema, edema and drainage of purulent material from a fistulous lesion. The patient was HIV-negative with no history of TB. A CT scan of the chest showed an osteolytic lesion in the sternum, and a biopsy revealed caseous granuloma, which, in the microbiological evaluation, was negative for fungi and acid-fast bacilli. The diagnosis of sternal osteomyelitis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis was confirmed using PCR.
Subject(s)
Aged , Humans , Male , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Sternum/microbiology , Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular/microbiology , Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
A 51 year old woman without significant past medical history or risk factors for Nocardia infection developed primary Nocardia nova sternal osteomyelitis with mediastinal abscess, diagnosed with open biopsy. She required prolonged antibiotic therapy and had a favorable outcome. Primary sternal osteomyelitis develops in the absence of a contiguous focus of infection, as opposed to secondary sternal osteomyelitis, which is usually a complication of sternotomy. Staphylococcus aureus probably still is the most common cause of both forms of sternal osteomyelitis. Nocardia species invade humans usually through the respiratory tract and can cause a variety of localized infections through the hematogenous route. Pulmonary involvement may or may not coexist. Immunosuppressed patients are more prone to infection by Nocardia species, although cases involving seemingly immunocompetent patients are not rare. This is the first reported case in the English literature of primary sternal osteomyelitis due to Nocardia nova or any other Nocardia species.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Nocardia Infections/microbiology , Osteomyelitis/microbiology , Sternum/microbiology , Nocardia Infections/diagnosis , Nocardia Infections/drug therapy , Osteomyelitis/diagnosis , Osteomyelitis/drug therapy , Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination/therapeutic useABSTRACT
INTRODUÇÃO: A mediastinite é uma das complicações mais temidas pelos cirurgiões cardiovasculares, sendo esta um fator importante na morbidade e mortalidade em cirurgia cardíaca. OBJETIVO: Buscar uma nova opção na prevenção da mediastinite, diminuindo o índice de morbidade e mortalidade. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo que incluiu 1020 pacientes submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca, no período de fevereiro de 2002 a outubro de 2005. Os pacientes foram submetidos a cirurgia com uso de circulação extracorpórea e implementação da vancomicina em pasta em substituição a cera de osso. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes foram seguidos ao longo de 45 meses, apenas cinco (0,49 por cento) desenvolveram mediastinite e não houve óbito. CONCLUSÃO: O uso de vancomicina em pasta em substituição à cera de osso mostrou-se ser uma aliada na prevenção da mediastinite no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca.
INTRODUCTION: Mediastinitis is one of the most feared complications for thoracic surgeons, being a significant factor in morbidity and mortality in thoracic surgery. OBJECTIVE: To find a new alternative in order to prevent mediastinitis, reducing the morbidity and mortality. METHODS: A retrospective study including 1020 patients operated between February 2002 and October 2005. Patients underwent bypass surgery and vancomycin paste was used rather than bone wax in all cases. RESULTS: Patients were followed-up for 45 months; there were only five (0.49 percent) cases of mediastinitis; no deaths were observed. CONCLUSION: The use of Vancomycin paste to replace bone wax proved to be a great allied to prevent mediastinitis after thoracic surgery.